A tiny retinal implant has helped patients with geographic atrophy, an advanced form of dry age‑related macular degeneration, read again in a trial led at Moorfields Eye Hospital. Of 32 people fitted with the Prima microchip, 27 regained reading vision, improving by about 25 letters after a year, research in the New England Journal of Medicine reports. Seventy‑year‑old Sheila Irvine called the results “out of this world” after reading an eye chart without a single error. The device pairs camera‑equipped glasses with a subretinal chip and isn’t yet licensed, though the UK lead hopes NHS access within years.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.